Closure cap for beverage container

ABSTRACT

A closure cap for a beverage container includes a cap, a guarantee strip and a retaining strip. The cap is connected to the retaining strip via a retaining strip connection, and the retaining strip is connected to the guarantee strip via a guarantee strip connection. The retaining strip connection and the guarantee strip connection are arranged in a diametrically opposite manner and a narrowing is provided in each of the two retaining strip portions between the retaining strip connection and the guarantee strip connection. The narrowings are such that on unscrewing of the closure cap an irreversible lengthening of the retaining strip is generated and the cap is movable into an open position, in which the underside of the cap lies in or under a plane in which the retaining strip lies, when the retaining strip rests with its underside on the upper side of the guarantee strip.

The invention relates to a closure cap for a beverage container according to the introductory clause of claim 1.

Such a closure cap is known from the document U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,491 B1. Such a closure cap has the advantage that in open state the closure cap hangs on the beverage container and remains securely connected thereto (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,491 B1, FIG. 8). The closure cap can thus not become lost. A disadvantage in this known closure cap is, on the other hand, that on usage of the beverage container by a person, the cap can generally come in contact with the person's face, which is generally perceived as being intrusive or unpleasant.

Proceeding herefrom, the invention is based on the problem of further developing a closure cap of the generic type to the effect that the closure cap, on opening the beverage container, can be brought into a position in which, during use of the beverage container by a person, the cap generally can not come in contact with the person's face.

The solution to this problem takes place through a closure cap having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are to be found in the dependent claims.

A core idea of the invention consists in that the retaining strip connection and the guarantee strip connection are arranged in a diametrically opposite manner and that in each of the two retaining strip portions, which extend between the retaining strip connection and the guarantee strip connection, the retaining strip is respectively equipped with a narrowing, wherein the narrowing in the retaining strip is configured in such a way that on unscrewing the closure cap an irreversible lengthening of the retaining strip is able to be produced and after the complete unscrewing of the closure cap, the irreversible lengthening is the retaining strip is present in such a way that in open state of the closure cap, the cap is movable into an open position in which the underside of the cap lies in or under a plane in which the retaining strip lies when the retaining strip rests with its underside on the upper side of the guarantee strip. The retaining strip connection on the one hand, and the guarantee connection on the other hand, are configured here such that the open position of the cap remains, at least with respect to a standing beverage container, as long as the cap is not moved. Such a closure cap according to the invention has the advantage that during use of the beverage container by a person, the cap generally can not come in contact with the person's face. At the same time, it is ensured that the cap remains securely connected to the guarantee strip and thus with the beverage container and does not become lost.

According to claim 2, the narrowings in the retaining strip can be introduced axially and/or radially into the retaining strip. An axial narrowing is present when the narrowing is formed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the closure cap. In a side view of the closure cap, a recess can be seen which runs in circumferential direction of the retaining strip. A radial narrowing is present when the narrowing is formed substantially in radial direction in relation to the longitudinal axis of the closure cap. In a top view onto the closure cap, it can be seen that in the region of the narrowing, the retaining strip has a smaller thickness in radial direction than outside this region. As a result, a narrowing forms a region with a defined elongation behaviour, analogous to a tension rod made of plastic, as is used for test purposes. The narrowing can preferably be arranged so that with a cross-section of the retaining strip in the region outside the narrowing a middle or a centre of the cross-section exists and that the longitudinal axis of the narrowing lies substantially in this middle or respectively centre.

The narrowings can preferably be arranged in a middle portion of the retaining strip portions. This has the advantage that the length and cross-section of the narrowing can be adapted to the respective degree of rigidity of the plastic which is selected for the cap, in order to achieve a suitable, irreversible lengthening of the narrowing and thereby of the retaining strip or respectively of the retaining strip portions, which extend between the retaining strip connection and the guarantee strip connection. In the closure cap according to the invention, no impairments are to take place of the extension part or respectively of the narrowing through the connection to the guarantee strip or the retaining strip of the closure cap.

According to the embodiment of claim 4, between the closed state of the closure cap and the open state of the closure cap, a threaded portion and thus an opening stroke through the variably configurable extension segments can also be configured for high closure caps. The invention is particularly suitable for CSD beverage containers, in particular CSD in PET bottles. “CSD” is the abbreviation for “carbonated soft drink” i.e. carbonated drinks. CSD beverage containers have a standardised thread. This is an industry standard which is known and generally accepted in the drinks industry. From the closed state to the open state, an opening stroke is provided corresponding to approximately two rotations. In other words, this means a path in circumferential direction of approximately 720°, preferably of approximately 700°. In beverage containers for non-carbonated drinks, a smaller path in circumferential direction and hence also a smaller opening stroke is usual and sufficient.

According to a further embodiment, several retainers can be provided on the guarantee strip, which are able to be brought into engagement with a retaining shoulder on the beverage container and are fixed there axially in the closed state of the closure cap. It is thereby ensured that on unscrewing the closure cap, the guarantee strip remains axially fixed and can only co-rotate radially.

For a connection between cap, retaining strip and guarantee strip, so-called breaking webs can be provided in a suitable manner. Consequently, the cap can be connected to the retaining strip via several retaining strip breaking webs. Furthermore, the retaining strip can be connected to the guarantee strip via several guarantee strip breaking webs. On unscrewing of the closure cap and on the axial movement of the cap, generated thereby, the breaking webs break and the cap moves away axially from the guarantee strip.

The axial movement of the cap on unscrewing of the closure cap leads, in addition, to the irreversible lengthening of the retaining strip, as is indicated in claim 1. This axial movement namely brings it about that the retaining strip is extended at the narrowings, wherein the thread of the beverage container remains embraced by the retaining strip. When the cap is free, it can be swung away via the retaining strip connection and applied against the beverage container. In so doing, such an open position is adopted in which the underside of the cap lies in or under a plane in which the retaining strip lies, when the retaining strip rests with its underside on the upper side of the guarantee strip. The re-closing of the beverage container with the closure cap according to the invention takes place in the reverse sequence.

According to claim 8, the retaining strip connection and/or guarantee strip connection can be configured as a “butterfly” connection. Such a configuration of the connection offers the advantage that the closure is pressed firmly onto the bottle shoulder and fixed in its position, so that in the case of use it does not interfere during drinking.

The embodiment according to claim 9 has the advantage that also the narrowings of the retaining strip have been produced by means of injection moulding. Compared to narrowings produced subsequently by a mechanical processing, injection-moulded narrowings offer a greater holding security of the cap on the beverage container.

An example embodiment of the invention is to be described more closely below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

FIG. 1 shows a closure cap in closed state with a view onto the retaining strip connection 1 between the cap 2 and the retaining strip 4. FIG. 2 shows the same closure cap in a view rotated clockwise through 90° about the longitudinal axis A. Thereby, the holding strip connection 1 between the cap 2 and the retaining strip 4 can be seen on the right-hand edge of the cap 2. The guarantee strip connection 13 is situated on the left-hand edge of the cap 2 in FIG. 2. At the guarantee strip connection 13, the retaining strip 4 is connected to the guarantee strip 6, which is situated also in open state of the closure cap beneath the thread on the beverage container 9 (see FIGS. 2 to 5). According to a first aspect of the invention, the retaining strip connection 1 and the guarantee strip connection 13 are thus arranged lying in a diametrically opposite manner. Two retaining strip portions result thereby, which extend between the retaining strip connection 1 and the guarantee strip connection 13, with only one of the two retaining strip positions being visible in FIGS. 2 to 5, namely the front retaining strip portion in viewing direction, i.e. the retaining strip portion which is situated in front of the thread for the closure cap 2. The other retaining strip portion is situated behind the thread for the closure cap 2 and is therefore not visible in the figures. A narrowing 5 is provided—preferably centrally arranged—in the front retaining strip portion. In the non-visible rear retaining strip portion a narrowing is also provided, which is likewise preferably centrally arranged. As a result, these two narrowings 5 therefore lie diametricaly opposite one another. According to a further aspect of the invention, the narrowings 5 are formed in the retaining strip 4 such that, on unscrewing of the closure cap, an irreversible lengthening of the retaining strip 4 is able to be generated (see FIGS. 3 to 5).

For a connection between cap 2, retaining strip 4 and guarantee strip 6, so-called breaking webs can be provided in a suitable manner. Consequently, the cap 2 can be connected to the retaining strip 4 via several retaining strip breaking webs 3. Furthermore, the retaining strip 4 can be connected to the guarantee strip 6 via several guarantee strip breaking webs 7.

The retaining strip connection 1 can preferably be configured as a so-called “butterfly” connection or respectively as a “butterfly” film hinge. Such a film hinge is known per se and therefore does not need to be described more closely here. In FIG. 1 the illustration of the film hinge 1 as an outwardly open double arrow (>----<) is intended to indicate that this is to concern a butterfly film hinge.

The guarantee strip 6 has several retainers 8, distributed over the circumference, which are oriented inwards and lie against the beverage container under a retaining shoulder 14. Generally, these retainers have a conical cross-section, wherein on the underside of the retainer an oblique surface is present and on the upper side of the retainer a surface parallel to the cross-section of the closure cap, and therefore also parallel to the retaining shoulder, is present. Owing to the oblique surface on the underside, the closure cap can be pressed onto the beverage bottle, the retainers 8 being pushed via the retaining shoulder 14 situated on the beverage container 9. The upper side of the retainer 8 lies parallel to the underside of the retaining shoulder 14. Thereby, the guarantee strip 6 remains fixed axially in relation to the beverage container 9 and can only co-rotate in circumferential direction on actuating of the closure cap or respectively of the cap 2.

FIG. 3 shows the state of the closure cap after the complete unscrewing of the closure cap. The unscrewing takes place by a movement of the cap 2 anti-clockwise (see arrow 10 in FIG. 3). In the case of CSD beverage containers, approximately two anti-clockwise rotations of the cap 2 are provided from the closed state to the open state. In other words, this means a path in circumferential direction of 720°, preferably of circa 700°. In beverage containers for non-carbonated drinks, a smaller path in circumferential direction is usual and sufficient. The guarantee strip 6 remains axially fixed under the retaining shoulder 14. Through the axial movement of the cap 2, the breaking webs 3 and 7 break and the cap 2 moves away axially from the guarantee strip 6. In addition, the axial movement of the cap causes the retaining strip 4 to be extended at the narrowings 5. The retaining strip 4 or respectively the narrowings 5 are configured such that an irreversible lengthening of the retaining strip 4 occurs here. The thread of the beverage container remains embraced here by the retaining strip 4. When the cap 2 is free (open state), it can be swung away via the retaining strip connection 1 and applied onto the beverage container 9 (see reference numbers 11 and 12 in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4 with the positions of the cap 2 and 2′). At the end of the opening movement, such an open position can be adopted in which the underside of the cap 2 lies in or under a plane E in which the retaining strip 4 lies, when the retaining strip 4 rests with its underside on the upper side of the guarantee strip 6. This situation is illustrated in FIG. 5. Before the swinging away, the cap has the position 2 in FIG. 5. The position of the cap 2′ shows an intermediate position during the swinging away of the cap, and the position 2″ shows a final position at the end of the swinging away of the cap. The retaining strip connection 1 and the guarantee connection 13 are configured here such that this open position of the cap 2 is maintained at least in relation to a standing beverage container 9, as long as the cap 2 is not moved. The re-closing of the beverage container with the closure cap according to the invention takes place in reverse sequence. With a use of the beverage container in the state as shown in FIG. 5, generally no contact of the cap 2 with the person's face can occur, as long as care is taken that the cap 2 points to the side during drinking from the beverage container.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1 retaining strip connection -   2 cap -   3 retaining strip breaking webs -   4 retaining strip -   5 narrowing -   6 guarantee strip -   7 guarantee strip breaking webs -   8 retainer -   9 beverage container -   10 rotation direction on unscrewing -   11 first swing away -   12 second swing away -   13 guarantee strip connection -   14 guarantee strip retaining shoulder 

What is claimed is:
 1. A closure cap for a beverage container, comprising a cap, a guarantee strip and a retaining strip, wherein the cap has an internal thread which is configured to be compatible with an external thread of the beverage container, wherein the cap is connected to the retaining strip via a retaining strip connection, and wherein the retaining strip is connected to the guarantee strip via a guarantee strip connection, wherein the retaining strip connection and the guarantee strip connection are arranged in a diametrically opposite manner, that in each of the two retaining strip portions, which extend between the retaining strip connection and the guarantee strip connection, the retaining strip is equipped respectively with a narrowing, wherein the narrowings are configured in the retaining strip such that on unscrewing of the closure cap an irreversible lengthening of the retaining strip is able to be generated, and after the complete unscrewing of the closure cap the irreversible lengthening of the retaining strip is present in such a manner that, in open state of the closure cap, the cap is movable into an open position in which the underside of the cap lies in or under a plane in which the retaining strip lies, when the retaining strip rests with its underside on the upper side of the guarantee strip, and wherein the retaining strip connection and also the guarantee connection, are configured such that the open position of the cap is maintained at least in relation to a standing beverage container, as long as the cap is not moved.
 2. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the narrowings are introduced axially and/or radially into the retaining strip.
 3. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the narrowings are arranged in a middle portion of the retaining strip portions.
 4. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein between the closed state of the closure cap and the open state of the closure cap, an opening stroke is provided corresponding to a maximum of two rotations of the cap, wherein a path of the cap in circumferential direction of less than or equal to 720° is present.
 5. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein several retainers are provided on the guarantee strip, which are able to be brought into engagement with a retaining shoulder on the beverage container and, in the closed state of the closure cap, are fixed axially there.
 6. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the cap is connected to the retaining strip via several retaining strip breaking webs.
 7. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the retaining strip is connected to the guarantee strip via several guarantee strip breaking webs.
 8. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the retaining strip connection and/or the guarantee strip connection are configured as a “butterfly” hinge.
 9. The closure cap according to claim 1, produced by means of injection moulding. 